Drones do far more than ruin a day at the park. Formally known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), they are integral to myriad sectors, from real estate to agriculture to disaster mapping and engineering. The Federal Communication Commission’s decision to change which drones can be sold in the U.S. matters far beyond the recreational use of such devices.
On December 22 the FCC added the products of Chinese drone makers DJI and Autel Robotics along with other foreign-made drones and critical components, to its “Covered List,” a compilation of communications technologies that have been deemed a risk to national security. FCC chairman Brendan Carr said in a recent announcement that the goal is to “unleash American drone dominance.” In effect, it means that new models of these drones cannot be imported or sold in the U.S.
The FCC’s decision is the latest move by the federal government to restrict Chinese technologies. Like telecom and video-surveillance gear before them, drones have raised concerns among U.S. officials over potential attacks, disruptions and surveillance. Indeed, the FCC announcement cites the 2026 FIFA World Cup, part of which will be hosted in the U.S., and the country’s 250-year anniversary celebrations as cause for preemptive action.
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If you already own a foreign-made drone, you can keep it, and U.S. retailers can sell previously approved models. But because the FCC’s move covers critical components, it could affect drone maintenance and repair as batteries, controllers and other parts become harder to obtain. The ban has triggered an uproar among the country’s nearly 500,000 certified commercial drone pilots: a Pilot Institute survey of 8,000 pilots, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, found that around 43 percent believe the ban will have an “extremely negative” or “potentially business-ending impact” on their companies. Some had already begun stockpiling drones and parts in anticipation of the ruling.
Even if you’ve never flown a drone, these aircraft affect your life. Chances are your town operates at least one UAS to conduct inspections or assist in emergency response—and it is likely that device was made overseas. Shenzhen, China–based DJI alone accounts for 70 to 90 percent of the commercial, local-government and hobbyist market in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.
Spexi, a Vancouver-based geospatial data company, scans regions using a freelance network of paid pilots; those pilots primarily fly DJI drones. “We’re reliant on the DJI Minis” to do the work, says CEO Bill Lakeland. “Now we’re looking to diversify.” But U.S.-made drones are often more expensive than foreign-made counterparts; Spexi is exploring building its own hardware.